West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Elsted
Something for almost everyone: fish and chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Funeral and wake catering in Elsted.
- Wakes at home
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Fresh fish and chips in Elsted
About our funeral and wake catering in Elsted
Someone else can make the booking for you. On the menu are pie and chips, gravy and cod and chips, and we are frequently booked for family gatherings after a burial or cremation and gatherings after scattering ashes.
In a small place like Elsted, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. We serve from the hatch, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once we’re up and running.
- Area
- Elsted (GU29)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
What happens on the day
If the plan changes on the day, a quick word is all it takes: we can start a little later or slow the pace. A wake in Elsted in late autumn or winter may run into the dark, with sunset about 7:05pm in late September and 4:00pm in December.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Preparing for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Elsted: halls, homes and travel
Elsted is about 5 miles south-east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. Wherever your wake is in the GU29 area, we can bring the van to you. Elsted is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Elsted to Guildford (22 miles away).
The South Downs National Park is within about 2 miles of Elsted; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Wakes anywhere in GU29 start with a parking spot for the van. If your venue is just outside Elsted, we also cover East Harting (1 mile west), Elsted Marsh (1 mile north-east), Didling (1 mile south-east), Nyewood (2 miles north-west) and Dumpford (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (9 miles south), Emsworth (9 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Midhurst Community Hospital (4.7 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Three Horseshoes Public House (less than half a mile east)
Looking after everyone
Nearly every event has some special diets. To look after them:
- Mention allergies you know about
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Have chairs for those who need them
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
When everyone has eaten, we pack up quietly.
Tea and coffee from the hall’s urn, or a friend’s tea table, goes well alongside.
Before you choose a spot
Every site is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
How we price fish and chips for the wake
We will give you a clear quote. What affects it most:
- How easy the site is to reach
- Your choice of menu
- The number of meals
- Any minimum charge
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Where the van would park
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The date and time of the event
Still finalising the details? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will quote on that. To start, fill in our quote form.
A chip van compared with other options
A sit-down meal can feel formal. A van keeps it relaxed. Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
Why us?
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
Places near Elsted
Also in Elsted
About the food
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Common questions in Elsted
How far is Elsted from London?
About 49 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
We are gathering after a service at The Parish Church of St Paul: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
What about guests who don’t eat fish?
Yes: sausages and pies, with chips. Tell us roughly how many to expect.
What food do you serve?
Chip-shop favourites: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Our menu has the details.
Do we need to provide anything?
Tell us what’s available at the site when you enquire, and we’ll confirm what we need.
What if the service runs late?
Of course. We serve when people are ready.
Can you cook in the rain?
The weather does not stop the van, because the fryers are inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Frequently, if the ground is firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
- Fried fresh to order in the van at your event
- Cod, haddock and chips, sausages and pies
- The van comes to you: homes, venues, workplaces and fields
- Served at the time you choose, from the hatch